ATHENS — "The full, consistent and bona fide implementation of the Prespes Agreement is crucial both for the accession process of North Macedonia to the European Union and for our bilateral relations," President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said during her meeting with the foreign minister of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, on Thursday, at the Presidential Mansion.

The President said that Greece remains a steadfast supporter of the European perspective of North Macedonia, though always based on the criteria of conditionality and respect for the principles of good neighbourliness.

At the same time, Sakellaropoulou noted that relations between the two countries have entered a new, productive period, a fact also confirmed by the regular exchange of contacts at a high level. She stressed that Greece looks forward to increasingly closer cooperation and partnership between the two countries in all areas of mutual interest.

On his part Osmani briefed Sakellaropoulou on the progress made in the implementation of the Prespes Agreement by his country and the possibilities of cooperation between the two countries. He also thanked Greece for the firm support it provides to the European perspective of North Macedonia.

He stressed that the two countries' bilateral relations will be further strengthened on the basis of mutual trust, while offering assurances that his country is fully committed to the implementation of the action plan resulting from the agreement between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias also met with Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani.

Their discussions focused on bilateral issues, tackling the effects of the pandemic, and the European perspective of the Western Balkans, according to a foreign ministry post on Twitter.

After their meeting, the two foreign ministers will sign three Memoranda of Cooperation. They concern the sectors of Diplomatic Education, Civil Protection, as well as another one between Enterprise Greece and the respective organisation of North Macedonia, Invest North Macedonia.